Campus-Only Recruitment

Only current UM Employees* are eligible.

• Open to all employee types including Temporary Staff and Student Employees.

The Mansfield Center invites applications for a Budget Analyst III to join their team. This position will have responsibility for all Mansfield external funding (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, etc.) and ensure that such sponsored projects comply with internal controls and applicable policies and regulations, as well as all federal and sponsor regulations. The Budget Analyst III will be responsible for the lifecycle of sponsored programs, including proposal budget development, proposal budget submission, award negotiation, and award management and closeout, as well as mitigation of audit risk.

In order to fulfill the grant budget requirements, this position will implement analytical, in-depth management of complex budgeting processes, applying theory to various problems by using analytical and evaluative processes and skills.

Responsibilities also include setting short and long-term goals and strategies for grant funding and designing new approaches to successful grant management. The Budget Analyst III will make higher-level assessments regarding the feasibility of competing for specific grants. This position will also play a critical role as the primary manager of sub-award budgets and compliance with proposal and award management. This position is not responsible for the supervision of classified staff or contract professional employees, but may supervise other employees on tasks related to recordkeeping functions.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Strategic leadership of budgets for all Mansfield external funding (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, etc.).
• Primary liaison with sponsors regarding all budgetary issues with the responsibility to negotiate budget terms.
• Ensure sponsored projects comply with internal controls, applicable policies, regulations, and federal and sponsor regulations.
• Oversee the lifecycle of sponsored programs, including proposal budget development and submission, award negotiation, and award management and closeout.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Principal Investigators, and program teams.
• Serve as the primary liaison with multiple sub-awards of large dollar amounts, reviewing their material to ensure it meets with OSP, federal, and sponsor policies and regulation, and ensuring that material is completed and submitted to UM by deadlines.
• Work with Mansfield team to mitigate audit risk.
• Implement analytical, in-depth management of complex budgeting processes, applying theory to various problems by using analytical, evaluative, or interpretive processes and ensure accuracy of grant expenditures and budget.
• Set short and long-term goals and strategies for grant funding and design new approaches to successful grant management.
• Perform higher-level assessments regarding the feasibility of competing for specific grants.
• Utilize UM systems such as Banner, U-Approve, UM Data Warehouse (UMDW), InfoGriz, GrizMart, and UM Box to manage budgets and processes.
• Utilize sponsor platforms such as grants.gov and SAMS domestic, completing complex sponsor forms as required.
• Work directly with Principal Investigators and Project Directors to monitor spending and plan for costs throughout the project period. Inform PI or Project Directors of any over expenditures and budget revision.
• Serve as critical manager of sub-award budgets, ensuring compliance with proposal and overall award management; ensuring sub-award expenditures are accurate and submitted on time.
• Manage related grant paperwork including cost transfers, grant reports, and other grant forms.
• Review grant expenditures on a weekly basis to ensure they are reasonable, allocable, and allowable and stored as required by UM procedures and document retention schedule. Provide monthly financial reports to directors to use for reporting, planning, and decision-making.
• Suggest refinements to procedures and implement changes in collaboration with the Mansfield Center leadership team to maximize efficiency and responsiveness.
• Cross-train with other Mansfield budget personnel to support other tasks as needed, which may include labor/budget forecasting, payroll, accounts payable, contracted service agreements, and expenditure approvals.

Upon completion of training, the incumbent will have:

• Extensive knowledge of budget management practices, accounting principles, and Mansfield Center programs.
• Familiarity with UM, Board of Regent, and U.S. Office of Budget and Management policies and guidelines.
• Superior problem-solving ability, discretion, written and verbal communication skills, organizational and multi-tasking skills, Excel skills, and ability to work independently.
• Working knowledge of the UM financial systems and be able to make recommendations based upon knowledge of funding requirements and financial information obtained from UM financial systems.
• Ability to process transactions within all UM platforms (such as U-Approve, UMDW, GrizMart, InfoGriz, and Banner).

Required Skills

• Knowledge of budget management practices and accounting principles.
• Experience in grants management.
• Excellent time management, written and verbal communication skills, especially when under stressful deadlines.
• Ability to prepare and revise budgets, and implement funding sponsor policies regarding allowable expenditures.
• Ability to interpret policies (state, federal and sponsor) and assure compliance on fiscal matters.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret details of myriad project regulations; communicate those regulations to PIs and project directors/staff.
• Ability to gather information from multiple sources, analyze and interpret financial data.
• Ability to perform financial work with minimal errors.
• Advanced skill in Excel formulas and calculations and experience using Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and work on projects independently.
• Ability to communicate and work with a diverse group of internal and external customers and partners, and remain respectful and professional when working with individuals throughout the course of highly stressful circumstances.
• Ability to adapt and establish effective working relationships with students, staff, faculty and administration.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

Minimum Required Experience

• High School diploma and two (2) years experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field, as well as at least five (5) years of directly related work experience
• Management, supervisory, leadership, and training experience.

About the Mansfield Center and UM

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center is an academic unit of the University of Montana dedicated to fostering globally minded leaders of integrity to achieve a world in which we act with respect and integrity undeterred by our differences. Founded by an Act of Congress in 1983, we honor the life’s work of Senator Mike Mansfield and his wife Maureen to act with integrity in bipartisan leadership, support of democracy, and in global engagement, particularly with Asia.

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• Video: Mission First, People Always
• UM on YouTube

Position Details

Position Title: Budget Analyst III

Position Number: NEW

Department: Mansfield Center

Work Schedule: Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 12 months/year

Salary: $22.503/hr –Current employee’s rate of pay for this position will be determined by the staff compensation plan and will minimally be this posted salary. For questions and details regarding the staff compensation plan, email the Compensation Department.

Union Affiliation: FOCUS-MFPE

Probationary Period: Six months minimum

Benefits Include: Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.




Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Candidates are required to submit the following materials online via "New Resume/CV" button below

• Please note, only five (5) attachments allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

A complete application Includes:

• Letter of Interest – addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position. A general letter salutation such as “Dear Search Committee” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.
• Detailed Resume – listing education and describing work experience.
• Professional References – names and contact information for three (3) professional references


Required Skills

Required Experience